Thank Heaven for Pretty Cakes

Building on a beautiful technique, this birthday cake takes the rosette swirl to a place of birthday perfection. This is an 8", two layer base cake with a 5" top tier. At the birthday girl's request the cake was a vanilla princess sour cream cake with American buttercream. 

Large piped rosettes enrobe the lower tier, while the top is smooth buttercream done in a quilted pattern and finished with a ruffle border and edible pearls. Birthday wishes and space for 5 candles made this a lovely centerpiece for an afternoon birthday party.

Swirls and Twirls: a Red Velvet with Rosettes

I love this cake. I mean really love--in a sit back and just let me look at you, kind of way. I had seen several incarnation of this design on the internet (that originated on the 'i am mommy' blog), and I was immediately smitten. I had to try it, only instead of pure ivory I added a stripe of pink tinted buttercream to the cream cheese buttercream for the rosettes. The cake is an 8", two layer red velvet cake with cream cheese buttercream. Such a simple idea that has a big and beautiful impact.